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Pregnancy and the Flu Shot


       Fall is such a beautiful time of year…the trees    changing colors, the weather cooling off, and children    eagerly anticipating Halloween. But fall also ushers in    the beginning of flu season, which generally peaks in    February but begins as early as October. And with flu    season comes the perennial question from pregnant    patients…should I get the flu shot?

 The answer is yes! Immunizations with live viruses
   are to be avoided in pregnancy. The flu shot is made    from inactivated (dead) viruses. This should not give    you the flu, since the virus is already dead, but it does    provide your immune system with a kind of "cheat

sheet," which stimulates it to produce antibodies to protect you from the flu. As pregnant women are more susceptible to illness, and also more likely to suffer complications from the flu, they are considered priority recipients of the shot. However, the nasal spray vaccine is made from attenuated (live but weakened) viruses, and should not be administered to pregnant women.

   Most people can be given the flu shot, but there are some exceptions, including children under the age of 6 months, people with a previous allergic reaction to the flu shot, or those allergic to eggs. It should also be used cautiously in patients with a history of Gullien-Barre syndrome, and those who are moderately to severely ill. People considering the flu vaccine should consult with their health care professional prior to being vaccinated.

Last Updated May 2007

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